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August 8th
On this day in history in ....
1960 - Red & Lou Bastien defeat Al Costello & Roy Heffernan for the U.S. Tag Team Title, the precursor to the WWWF (then WWF, then WWE) Tag Team Title.
1961 - Verne Gagne defeats Gene Kiniski for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota, starting his second title reign.
1963 - Verne Gagne defeats Fritz Von Erich for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas to start his fifth title reign.
1981 - Wahoo McDaniel defeats Roddy Piper for the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Greensboro, North Carolina.
1993 - Tito Santana defeats Don Muraco for the ECW Heavyweight Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to end Muraco's second title reign.
1997 - Dutch Mantel defeats Jerry Lawler for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee. Mantel would be the final champion, as the promotion would close in November of 1997. On the same card, Steven Dunn & Flash Flanagan defeat PG-13 for their third USWA Tag Team Title run, and ending PG-13's 14th title reign.
1998 - WCW held their Road Wild Pay-per-view in Sturgis, South Dakota at the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally. Here are the results:
- Meng defeated The Barbarian, with Jimmy Hart, via disqualification when Hugh Morrus attacked Meng. Hacksaw Duggan made the save.
- Public Enemy defeated Disco Inferno & Alex Wright, with Magnum Tokyo, when Johnny Grunge pinned Disco Inferno after Tokyo accidentally splashed him.
- Saturn defeated Raven and Chris Kanyon in a Falls Count Anywhere Triangle Match with Saturn pinned Raven after a Death Valley Driver.
- Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeated Psicosis with a springboard hurricanrana.
- WCW Television Champion Stevie Ray defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr. with a Slapjack.
- The scheduled Rick Steiner vs. Scott Steiner match didn't take place, because Rick had "injured" Scott with a chairshot before the show. The match was rescheduled for Fall Brawl.
- Steve McMichael defeated Bryan Adams.
- Juventud Guerrera defeated Chris Jericho to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title with a rana off the top rope. Dean Malenko was the guest referee, and helped Guerrera by launching him into the rana.
- Bill Goldberg won a nine man Battle Royal which included The Giant, Scott Hall, Curt Hennig, Konnan, Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, Scott Norton, and Sting. Goldberg, the only non-NWO participant, pinned The Giant with a jackhammer to win the match.
- Diamond Dallas Page & Jay Leno defeated Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff when Kevin Eubanks gave Bischoff a Diamond Cutter, allowing Leno to pin him.
- Following the wrestling, country star Travis Tritt performed on the PPV.
2010 - WWE signed the then-reigning ROH champion Tyler Black to a developmental deal. Black is currently in developmental under the ring name Tyler Black.
2010 - TNA held an ECW-themed PPV, Hardcore Justice in Orlando, FL. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
The PPV opened with a "slide show" style video package of old still photos from ECW, with voiceovers from various stars putting over their past. They spliced in some shots of the outside of the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, as it looks today. The package ended with Tommy Dreamer saying this was their "Last Stand".
Ring announcer Stephen DeAngelis welcomed us to the show, as the fans chanted "ECW", and introduced the "Human Suplex Machine", Taz. Taz welcomed the fans to Hardcore Justice, and there was a "Taz" chant. Taz said he had looked into the eyes of the wrestlers in the back, and it was going to "get extreme" tonight. There was another "ECW" chant. Taz said that there have been "haters and doubters" about what they did "back in the day." Taz said they were about more than just "violence" and that they revolutionized the business. Taz said this was a shoot, and that anyone who wants to "piss" on what they did "never got it, is never going to get it, and can kiss his ass". Taz then did his classic closing line, "I'm Taz, the Human Suplex Machine, beat me if you can, survive if I let you!"
Tazz then joined Mike Tenay at the announce table, for the opening six man tag, refereed by John Finnegan.
The FBI (Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke, Tracy Smothers with Big Sal E. Graziano) vs. Kid Kash, Simon Diamond & Johnny Swinger.
Kid Kash got a "welcome back" chant as he came out. Tenay said Diamond & Swinger were angry with the FBI because the FBI got a title match with Mikey Whipwreck & Tajiri at the Hammerstein Ballroom ten years ago. DeAngelis did full introductions for each wrestler. Tony Mamaluke was introduced as "Tony Luke", even though there was a "TM" on his tights. There was a huge chant for Guido as he was introduced. There ring was bathed in blue light after the bell for some reason, with the lights on the audience dimmed.
Kid Kash and Guido started, and there was a "Where's My Pizza?" chant as Kash and Guido exchanged early pinfall and rollup attempts. Tony Luke tagged in, and Mike Tenay explained that there were names they couldn't use for legal reasons, thus the "tribute" to South Philly's best sandwich shop. Swinger tagged in and hit Tony with a back suplex. Tony whipped Swinger into Diamond and tagged out to Smothers. Tracy and Diamond faced off, with Smothers hitting a series of shots and a side kick, then elbowed DIamond, sending him to the floor. There was an "FBI" chant. Simon took the mic and said "Simon has a problem." The fans chanted "Shut The F*** Up" as Taz wondered if they were in Philly. Diamond blamed Kash for them not being a "fine oiled machine" then said they can outdance the FBI. Diamond said they were going to have an "Extreme Dance Off". Diamond and Swinger danced, while Kash just watched. Tracy got on the mic and said Michael Jackson was rolling in his grave. Smothers said if they can't dance better than them, "everybody dies" and the FBI danced. Big Sal then got in the ring and danced, to an ovation. Kash, Swinger and Diamond cleared out the FBI, except Sal. Sal knocked Swinger and Diamond out of the ring, and we had a huge brawl on the floor. Kid Kash then launched himself off referee John Finnegan, into a springboard off the top rope and into a flip dive onto the pile on the floor.
The match then settled back down, with Kash hitting Tony with a backbreaker for a two count. Kash and Luke chopped each other, then Luke hit a clothesline. Luke charged Kash, who powerslammed him into the turnbuckles. Guido tagged in and knocked Diamond and Swinger off the apron before hitting Kash with a series of kicks, a bodypress and a legsweep. Guido dropkicked Kash, but Swinger broke up the cover. Luke went to the ropes, but Diamond stopped him. Swinger and Kash went to double superplex Luke, but Tracy and Guido got in and we had a Tower powerbomb/superplex spot. Everyone started hitting their finishers, including Diamond hitting the Simon Series on Guido, Kash giving Luke a Moneymaker and Guido giving Kash a Sicilian Slice and more. Guido hit the Tomikaze (UnPretteier) on Diamond for the pin at the ten minute mark.
Winners: The FBI (Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke, Tracy Smothers with Big Sal E. Graziano)
Mike Tenay talked about calling the show, and said if Joey Styles had been "contractually available" he would give up the announce seat to him. Tenay and Taz then explained that due to Jerry Lynn's back injury, tonight's main event would be Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu.
They had a "Where Are They Now?" segment, with taped comments from ECW founder Tod Gordon, Pitbull Gary Wolfe and The Blue Meanie. They thanked the fans for their support.
They then had an "I Remember" segment with AJ Styles talking about the famous Tommy Dreamer vs. The Sandman caning angle.
Al Snow did a backstage promo with Head, telling Head to "stop chanting those letters" because Head was going to get them in trouble. Stevie Richards tried to calm Snow, who began ranting about his old WWF gimmicks. Super Nova, in Hollywood Nova gear, showed up, and they joked about how his blue shirt had no logo on it, due to legal issues. Nova then brought in a Blue Meanie imposter, with Snow joking that "legally, we can't even get the real guy!" The Meanie imposter had "BV2.0" on his shirt. Nova said it was like replacing a character on a TV show. Richards then said that tonight was his night to prove something to the fans and his peers, and that he had a match to get ready for, leaving Nova and the fake Meanie.
C.W. Anderson vs. 2 Cold Scorpio.
Mike Kehner is the referee for this one. Scorpio got a nice ovation and chant, while Taz talked about how Scorpio and Dean Malenko broke his neck during a match where Taz teamed with Eddie Guerrero. Scorpio and Anderson exchanged arm locks and holds. Scorpio offered a handshake, but Anderson spat at him. Anderson threw some punches, then they traded shots until Anderson put Scorpio in a headlock. Scorpio tossed him in the ropes and leapfrogged him, then hit a dropkick. Scorpio sent Anderson to the floor, then hit a corkscrew plancha, getting an "ECW" chant. Scorpio hit a top rope bodypress for a two count. They traded forearm shots, then Anderson hit a superkick for a two count. Anderson stomped on Scorpio's arm, then threw him into a corner, shoulder first. Anderson kept working on the arm, but Scorpio hit a back kick, and unloaded with punches until Anderson blasted him with a left hand for a two count.
Anderson went to pick Scorpio up off the mat, but Scorpio hit a legsweep for two. They traded some pinfall reversals, then Anderson ducked a superkick and backdropped Scorpio to the apron. Scorpio got back in and hit a rolling capo kick in the corner, then hit a somersault senton on Anderson. Scorpio went for a moonsault, but Anderson got his knees up, then hit Scorpio with a spinebuster for a two count. There was a chant for Scorpio. Anderson hit some forearms, but then ran into a Scorpio superkick. Scorpio went to the top rope and dropped the Bomb (moonsault legdrop) for the pin at the seven minute mark.
Winner: 2 Cold Scorpio.
After the match, Scorpio pulled Anderson back into the ring and held out his hand. They shook hands and Scorpio held up his arm.
Another "I Remember" segment. Velvet Sky said there are similarities between ECW and TNA. Matt Morgan talked about being a bouncer at Bar Anticipation, where "the Philadelphia promotion" ran a show. Mr. Anderson also put over the "Philly based promotion".
Backstage, Rob Van Dam and Bill Alfonso talked about the classic Jerry Lynn-RVD feud, and Van Dam said Lynn was training so hard, he hurt himself. Van Dam said he had to think about his opponent for tonight, and that there are many loose ends from back in the day, like his TV title reign. Van Dam said, if this is going to be for one night only, he had to pick Sabu to be his opponent. Bill Alfonso said he would "call it right now the middle" and manage both men. Van Dam did the old "Sabu/RVD" post and Bill Alfonso blew his whistle.
PJ Polaco (Justin Credible) vs. Stevie Richards.
Credible was wearing one of his ECW-era Justin Credible shirts. Richards was accompanied by Nova and "Blue Tillie", the Meanie impersonator. Credible was referred to as PJ Polaco, although the fans chanted "Justin Credible". Richards got a chant for his introduction as well. Credible hit Richards with a shoulderblock at the start, then Richards grabbed a headlock. Richards hit his own shoulderblock, backing off Credible. Credible hit some knees to the gut, then chopped Richards. Richard returned fire and whipped Credible into the corner. Credible was then slid into the ringpost, groin first. The battled went to the floor, where Credible hit a suplex. Credible got back in the ring and hit a slingshot splash onto Richards on the floor. Credible stomped Richards in a corner, then pulled him out into a powerbomb for a two count. Credible gave Richards a jawbreaker, then stomped him in a corner.
Richards reversed a whip and sent Credible into a corner. Credible tried to leapfrog him, but Richards tossed Credible to the floor. There was a "We Want Meanie" chant as Tillie did Meanie mannerisms on the floor. Richards hit Credible with an elbow and a side slam. Richards hit a powerbomb for a two count. Richards went to the middle rope, but jumped into a Credible superkick for a two count. Credible hit the That's Incredible spinning tombstone piledriver. Credible covered, but pulled Richards up at two, then argued with Nova. Credible stood over Richards and said "That's not just the coolest, that's not just the best, that's..." and Richards jumped up and superkicked him for the pin at the six minute mark.
Winner: Stevie Richards.
Post-match, Credible took a Singapore Cane and blasted Richards with it. The lights went out, and when they came back on, The Sandman was in the ring. Sandman smiled at Credible, who looked incredulous. Credible swung his cane, but Sandman ducked it and hit the White Russian Legsweep. Sandman then blasted Credible with a caneshot. Sandman broke Credible's cane in half then stood over Credible. There was a "Welcome back" chant starting up as they went to the next video package.
They had a "Where Are They Know?" segment, and showed Francine with her little daughter Molly. Francine thanked the fans, TNA, and gave best wishes to everyone she worked with in ECW. Francine noted she was retired, but had a great 15 year run in wrestling.
They put up a graphic dedicated to those men and women that were "no longer with us" but didn't name any of them.
Rhino vs. Al Snow vs. Brother Runt.
Some fans had the old Styrofoam heads in support of Al Snow. Rhino got the biggest reaction of the three during introductions. Runt went for an early cradle on Rhino after Snow got knocked out of the ring, but Rhino clotheslined him. Rhino set up for a Gore, but Snow tripped him. Snow avoided a clothesline from Runt, but Rhino knocked him to the floor. Runt dodged a charging Rhino, sending him to the floor. Runt dove off the top rope to the floor, but Rhino and Snow caught him and slammed him on the ramp. Snow tossed Rhino into the ring, but missed a slingshot legdrop. There was a "We Want Head" chant. Snow headbutted Rhino to the mat, then went for a moonsault, hitting it for a two count. They showed members of the TNA roster watching on a monitor in the back.
Rhino suplexed Al Snow, and Runt immediately gave Snow a double stomp off the ropes. Runt went for an Acid Drop on Rhino, but Rhino threw Runt to the mat. Runt kicked a charging Rhino and gave him a flying headscissors. Runt hit Snow and Rhino with punches and chops. Runt went for a double Acid Drop, but Rhino and Snow tossed him to the floor. Rhino elbowed Snow, who bumped into the referee. Snow picked up Head and hit Rhino with it. Runt picked up a chair, but instead of hitting Snow, he did the old Eddie Guerrero trick of tossing it to Snow and acting like he was hit with it. However, before the referee could see him with the chair, Snow threw the chair down and acted like he was hit too. The referee turned and didn't know who was hit with the chair. Snow went to hit Runt with Head, but Runt ducked it and hit Snow with the Acid Drop, walking up Rhino in the corner, for the pin, eliminating Snow. Rhino immediately hit Runt with a Gore and pinned him, winning the match.
Winner: Rhino.
Mick Foley, who was reading Hulk Hogan's book for some reason, discussed the Tommy Dreamer and Raven feud, noting at one point he endorsed Dreamer as being "Hardcore" and he also turned on Dreamer and followed Raven at one point. Foley said this match was going to be their final battle, and he was the man that could survive whatever happens and make sure the three count is made.
More comments from TNA stars. Chris Sabin said the first Hardcore match he ever saw was Terry Funk vs. Sabu in a barbed wire match, and that Rob Van Dam was his favorite wrestler.
Axl Rotten & Kahoneys (Balls Mahoney) vs.
The fans chanted "Balls" as Kahoneys shrugged over his new name being announced. Balls took the mic and said they were the most extreme tag team in the history of the business, but they don't have a match. They laid out an open challenge to anyone with the "guts or nuts" to come out. "Well, well, well.." out walked Joel Gertner, in a fur coat and shorts, with Team 3D. Brother Ray and Brother Devon were clad in tie-dye. The fans chanted "Dudley Boys". The fans then chanted "Testify". Joel Gertner did one of his classic innuendo laced introductions, invoking Lady Gaga, and getting a "That's Hardcore" chant. It really was a great intro, and I can't do it justice by typing it up. Gertner even teased calling them "The Du.... Team 3D".
Brother Ray got on the mic, and said the fans were looking at "four of the most hardcore men" in the history of wrestling. Ray said the fans didn't want to see a wrestling match, and they should give the fans what they paid to see. Ray said it should be a "South Philadelphia Streetfight" and the brawl was on. Balls and Ray fought on the floor, while Axl went at it with Devon. They used a split screen to follow both fights at the same time. Taz and Tenay were laughing about Balls' new name, and Taz noted they shouldn't be since they had four guys beating each other up. The fight, as you would expect, went into the crowd, Taz and Tenay were making jokes about not having HD TV back in the old days, while the fans chanted "ECW' as the brawl continued in the crowd. The participants made it back to ringside, and they started using weapons, including a frying pan and cookie sheet.
Axl Rotten gave Brother Ray a bionic elbow in the ring, and blasted him with a cookie sheet. Axl went at it with Devon, with Axl hitting him with a trash can lid. Brother Ray knocked Axl down, and Balls entered the ring with a lightsaber. Seriously. The fans chanted "Use The Force". Devon tossed Ray another lightsaber, and we had a lightsaber duel, with Balls "stabbing" Ray between the arms. Ray took the lightsaber and hit Balls in the nads with it. Brother Ray then did his old dance move before knocking Balls down. That got a "ECW" chant. Axl gave Brother Ray an inverted DDT for a two count. Devon gave Axl a neckbreaker for a two count. Balls gave Devon a spinebuster for a two count. Fans chanted "We want tables! We want fire!" as the two teams dueled with chairs. Axl and Balls got the better of it, but couldn't get the pin. Axl and Balls complained to referee John Finnegan, who tried to clothesline them, unsuccessfully. Team 3D hit Axl and Balls with hard chairshots to the head.
Team 3D gave Balls the What's Up headbutt, then did the "Get The Tables!" bit. They set up a table, and Gertner gave Brother Ray some lighter fluid. The fans chanted "ECW" as Brother Ray put the fluid on the table. Devon lit the table on fire, and they powerbombed Balls through it. Devon then pinned Balls.
Winners: Team 3D.
The fans chanted "Thank you" and Brother Ray said they are the most extreme tag team of all time. Enter New Jack and Mustafa, The Gangstas, with a generic version of "Natural Born Killaz" playing. They had a trash can full of weapons and went to town on Team 3D. They used a crutch, trash can, and staple gun. Joel Gertner tried to get in to help, and New Jack blasted him with an acoustic guitar. The brawl suddenly stopped, and all six men (Axl and Balls as well) all hugged and raised each others arms as the fans applauded. Tenay called it "a tribute to hardcore wrestling".
Raven cut a promo about how when he grew up with Tommy Dreamer, Dreamer was a better athlete and a tougher man, but as they got older, Raven became the better athlete and the tougher man. Raven said Dreamer couldn't handle that, and that's why he set out to hurt him emotionally. Raven said Dreamer stole his girl, and now has the family and life he should have had. Raven said he has waited ten years for his chance to ruin Dreamer's "moment of glory" tonight.
More comments from TNA wrestlers about that "hardcore" promotion. Kazarian talked about being in training with Killer Kowalski and being able to go to some of the shows and see those wrestlers worked. Kazarian let out an "ECW' but it was bleeped.
They had a segment about Joey Styles, with Brother Ray, Rob Van Dam, Jerry Lynn, Simon Diamond, Rhino, The Sandman, Stevie Richards, and Tommy Dreamer all thanking him for his calls of ECW matches over the years and praising him for his work in ECW. They also mentioned they wished he was there tonight. Taz also added his thanks to Joey Styles.
Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven, with Mick Foley as the referee.
Teresa (Beulah), the wife of Tommy Dreamer, was at ringside with Dixie Carter. Raven came out and smiled at her, as well as Dreamer's daughters. Dreamer came out with a T-Shirt that said "Thank You" on the back. Dreamer kissed his daughters before entering the ring. Foley told them that he would give them "a lot of room" and all he wanted was that they keep the match between the two of them, with no one else getting involved. Raven kicked Dreamer in the groin as Foley was still talking, starting the match. Raven immediately took Dreamer to the floor and gave him a side Russian legsweep into the guardrail. Back in the ring, Raven wedged a chair in a corner and went to whip Dreamer into it, but Dreamer reversed it and sent Raven into the chair. Back on the floor, Dreamer pounded Raven. Dreamer took a beer from a fan and spit a mouthful at Raven, then hit him with the can. Dreamer pounded Raven in a corner of the guardrail and bit him. Taz was talking about driving around with Tommy Dreamer and Paul Heyman during all this.
Dreamer set up two chairs and went to suplex Raven on them, but Raven blocked it and gave him a drop toe hold into the chairs. They went to the floor, and Raven busted open Dreamer with a chair. Tommy's family was removed from ringside. Raven missed a chairshot on the outside, but threw Dreamer into the steps. Dreamer was a bloody mess. Raven set up a chair, but Dreamer gave him a drop toe hold into it. Tommy took a sign that said "Tommy, use this sign". Dreamer hit Raven with it, and revealed it was a Dead End street sign. Raven was now bleeding as well. Dreamer suplexed Raven on the street sign. Dreamer put a ladder in the ring, while some fans chanted "This is Hardcore" while other fans were quiet. Dreamer bit the bloody Raven, then gave him a catapult into the ladder, which was laid across the bottom rope.
Dreamer put Raven on the top rope, then put the ladder across the middle rope to do a superplex, but Raven crotched Dreamer between the steps of the ladder. Raven then drove Dreamer to the mat from the top rope. Raven went for a DDT, but Dreamer blocked it and hit a Spicoli Driver. Dreamer put Raven in the Tree Of Woe and stood on his crotch. Dreamer put the street sign in front of Raven's face and dropkicked it. Dreamer went under the ring and pulled out some barbed wire. Dreamer put Raven in a crossface with the barbed wire going through his mouth. Nova and Tillie ran out and attacked Foley and Dreamer before Raven could tap out.
Nova and Tillie worked over Foley, then Dreamer. Nova helped Tillie go to the top rope, where he missed a splash. Dreamer gave Nova and Tille a DDT/neckbreaker combo. Raven then DDT'd Dreamer, and Foley crawled over to count, but Dreamer kicked out. Raven shoved Foley over not counting to three, and Foley unloaded on Raven with punches. Foley then pulled out Socko (not an ECW gimmick) and gave it to Raven. Lupus (at least they said it was him, Taz didn't even seem sure, and he looked nothing like he did in ECW if it is the same guy) came out to help Raven, legdropping Dreamer off the top rope, but Foley gave him a Barbed Wire Socko. The fans chanted "Holy S***" and Taz choked that they were indeed an alternative. Foley battered Lupus to the back.
Raven handcuffed Dreamer's hands behind his back. Foley got back to the ring. Raven hit Dreamer with a chairshot to the back. Teresa (Beyuah) came out and begged Raven to stop. Teresa hugged Raven, but Raven hit Dreamer with a chairshot anyway. Raven threatened her with the chair, but Foley stopped him, so Raven gave him a low kick. Raven blasted Foley with the chair. Raven stood over Teresa, and she hit Raven with a low blow. Dreamer, still handcuffed, gave Raven a DDT and covered him. Foley counted, but Raven kicked out at two. Dreamer went for another DDT, but Raven hit Dreamer with a chairshot to the leg, and DDT'd Dreamer for the pin.
Winner: Raven.
After replays of the Dreamer-Raven match were shown, Dreamer and Teresa were shown leaving the ring, with Dreamer getting an ovation from the crowd.
Jeremy Borash and So Cal Val were plugging TNAWrestling.com. The Gangstas showed up, with New Jack remarking how Borash used to wait in line and get autographs. New Jack told the "little white girl" that "one you go black, you get bad credit" and sent her off with Mustafa. New Jack then informed Borash that since she is now gone, Borash is his "bitch" and walked off with him.
A video package on Paul Heyman was now shown, with many wrestlers praising his passion and vision. Raven said he and Heyman were like "Scorsese and DeNiro." Simon Diamond noted how Heyman was the first person to involve the Internet in pro wrestling and "pull back the curtain."
Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu.
Rob Van Dam came out with his TNA World Title belt and was accompanied by Bill Alfonso. Fonzie then ran to the back so he could accompany Sabu to the ring. The bout was introduced as a non-title bout. Sabu dove at RVD's leg at the bell, and the fans chanted "This is Classic" before they had actually made contact. Sabu backed Van Dam into a corner, and Van Dam went to the floor and did his "Rob Van Dam" pose. There were chants for both men. Sabu grabbed a leg, but RVD kicked it away. Van Dam went for a hammerlock, but Sabu snapmared him to the mat. Sabu grabbed a chinlock, and Van Dam went to suplex out of it, but Sabu landed on his feet. RVD went for a sweep kick, but Sabu jumped over it. Both men yelled to Fonzie for a chair. He slid one in, and both men went to pick it up. Sabu got it and hit RVD with it. Sabu hit a chair launch into a leg lariat in a corner, then sent RVD to the floor. Sabu hit a baseball slide kick that sent RVD over the guard rail into the crowd.
Sabu did a chair launch into a springboard off the top rope into the crowd, landing on RVD. The fans chanted "ECW" and "This is Awesome." Back in the ring, Sabu got a two count and put RVD in a camel clutch. Sabu threw a chair on RVD's back, then reapplied the camel clutch. Sabu stomped RVD's head, then went for another chair launch, but RVD kicked the chair into Sabu's legs. Van Dam gave Sabu a monkey flip into the chair, with Sabu catching his elbow on the chair. RVD threw the chair at Sabu and got a two count. Sabu ducked a shot and gave RVD a clothesline for a two count. Sabu worked over RVD with punches. Both men went for a second rope springboard kick at the same time, and they collided. Bill Alfonso got in the ring and gave both men water bottles. Yep, we had a water break.
Sabu and RVD both went to the floor and got tables and slid them in the ring. They then fought outside, including RVD hitting a kick off the ring apron to the floor. RVD put Sabu gut first across the guard rail, then hit a legdrop from the ring apron. RVD put Sabu on the ring apron, put a chair on Sabu, then hit a slingshot legdrop. Back in the ring, RVD got a two count. Sabu ran into an RVD elbow. RVD went to the top rope, but Sabu threw a chair at him. Sabu then hit a top rope rana on RVD, sending him into the chair on the mat. Sabu hit an Arabian facebuster for a two count. The fans chanted "You've still got it" as Sabu used a camel clutch on RVD. RVD came back with a chair shot, and Sabu was bleeding from the back of the head. RVD crotched Sabu on the top rope, then measured him and had Fonzie hold a chair in front of Sabu's face so he could hit a top rope kick and send the chair into his face.
Rob Van Dam hit a split legged moonsault on Sabu for a two count. Van Dam set up a table, but Sabu threw a chair at RVD, then hit a double legdrop for a cover, but RVD was under the ropes. Taz laughed about the referee enforcing the rules after the use of chairs. Van Dam hit a Rolling Thunder backsplash on Sabu with a chair laid across him. RVD hit a dropkick to Sabu in the corner with a chair for a two count. Sabu blocked a whip and hit a nice tornado DDT for a two count. Sabu hit an Atomic Arabian Facebuster for a two count. RVD was put on a table, and Sabu went to the top rope with a chair. Sabu went for the Atomic Arabian Facebuster, but Van Dam moved and Sabu crashed through the table. Van Dam then hit the Five Star Frog Splash for the pin at the 18-minute mark.
Winner: Rob Van Dam.
The announcers wondered how Rob Van Dam would be able to handle Abyss this Thursday on Impact after such a brutal match. Other than one commercial for Impact, this was the only mention of Thursday's broadcast.
Rob Van Dam helped Sabu up, and they embraced and raised each other's arms. After replays from the match were shown, we saw most of the wrestlers on the card come out carrying beers. The fans chanted "thank you" as they toasted in the ring. Noticeably absent from the celebration was Raven. Dixie Carter was shown at ringside with a beer. The fans chanted "F*** You Vince." Tommy Dreamer got on the mic and thanked Mike Tenay and Tazz for calling the show. He then thanked Atlas Security and Dixie Carter. Brother Ray carried Dixie around the ring and put her on the apron as fans chanted "TNA". Tommy Dreamer said "To all the men and women in TNA, we set the bar, and we expect you to raise it". Dreamer said it was "One hell of an F'N PPV" and thanked Dixie as the show ended.
A commercial for TNA Bound For Glory ended the program.
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